Can non-Apple users truly share a Photo album - eg, adding images to it - or can they merely view it via a web link I send them?

This situation with shared iCloud albums is more than a little heavy-handed and incredibly hostile to customers on Apple’s part. No other file sharing service I’m aware of invites someone to view a shared document while requiring them to accept and set up an app. (It’s an option, which is fine.) Without even informing the user of this limitation.

I was just embarrassed sending shared album invitations to a bunch of coworkers, then getting upset replies because my file sharing service, iCloud, won’t share the files. So thanks for making me look and feel stupid with your crippled software, Apple.

The solution is obvious: provide a direct web address, in addition to providing the iCloud path, with equal emphasis in the invitation. Apple should stop using its customers as unknowing shills for their technology: that’s not what we pay premium prices for. Good technology does not rely on secret, underhanded, “network effects” to drive higher adoption.

Before anyone says, “Yes, you can offer a public web address when you share the album...” That’s not adequate: it needs to be secured, not public. Just like every reputable file sharing service. I would much rather pay Dropbox for a full-fledged storage solution than pay Apple each month for a crippled one.

If Google is getting sued 1bln for directing users to it's shopping platform over a search function, then Apple should be guilty of similar in its photo share function. The agreement states "either or" - meaning that if one condition is satisfied, then access will be granted. This does not hold true. Personally my entire family and all my friends use an iPhone. I've missed out on many photos and memories that would have been captured only if I were an iPhone user. There are clear antitrust irregularities present and if they aren't corrected I'm sure some greedy lawyer will try to correct them him-herself. Make photo share available to all! Thanks in advance..

Hi cclift1,

Welcome to the Apple Support Communities! I apologize for any confusion regarding the Shared Albums. While any user can view a Shared album via the web link, you are correct that to work with that album (post photos/video, make comments, etc) they would need to either be on an Apple device or have iCloud installed on their Windows machine, as noted in this article:

What do I need to see and share videos, contribute to someone else's shared album, and add comments or like photos and videos?

• iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch with iOS 7 or later
• Mac with OS X Mavericks v10.9 or later and iPhoto 9.5 or Aperture 3.5
• Apple TV (2nd generation) with Apple TV software 6.0 or later
• PC with Windows 7 or later and iCloud for Windows (or iCloud Control Panel 3.1 or later)

If the owner of a shared album turns on the Public Website option and shares the link with you, you can use any up-to-date browser to see photos and videos added by the owner and all contributors.

Get help using iCloud Photo Sharing and shared albums - Apple Support

Regards

Hi cclift1,

Sorry about that, I should have clarified. To work with a shared album they would need to have iCloud on their Windows machine, but to fully setup iCloud on their Windows machine, they would need to have set their Apple ID up as an iCloud account, which can only be done from a Mac or iOS device. While they wouldn't need to still have that device presently, they would need access at least initially:

What you'll need

Before you download iCloud for Windows, you'll need an iCloud account. You can sign in to iCloud with your Apple ID. Just follow the set up instructions for your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch with iOS 5 or later or Mac with OS X Lion v10.7.4 or later.

Depending on what information you want to keep up to date in iCloud, you might need a few other things:

• Mail, Contacts, Calendars, and Reminders: Outlook 2007 through Outlook 2016.
• Bookmarks: Safari 5.1.7 or later, Internet Explorer 10 or later, Firefox 22 or later, or Google Chrome 28 or later.
• Documents: iCloud Drive set up on each of your devices.

Set up and use iCloud for Windows - Apple Support

Regards

I was just embarrassed sending shared album invitations to a bunch of coworkers, then getting upset replies because my file sharing service, iCloud, won’t share the files.

But iCloud is not a file sharing service.

No other file sharing service I’m aware of invites someone to view a shared document while requiring them to accept and set up an app. (It’s an option, which is fine.) Without even informing the user of this limitation.

That is due to most of the enhanced functionality of a shared photo album requiring an Apple app. The web doe snot provide the same feature set that Apple's app does. Plus, once again, iCloud is NOT a file sharing service.

I would much rather pay Dropbox for a full-fledged storage solution than pay Apple each month for a crippled one.

Then do that.

Hi cclift1,

Thank you for using the Apple Support Communities. I'm sorry for the delay in getting back to you, and for the lack of clarity in the documentation. If you have gone through the above linked articles completely without reaching a resolution or a direction for further troubleshooting, you may be better served by reaching out to one of Apple's other available resources for more direct assistance - https://getsupport.apple.com/GetproductgroupList.action

Regards

This is a royal pain: Here's how to get around it:

1) Ask your friend to register for an appleID. Windows users can do this much.

2) Have them choose an easy password and tell you what it is.

3) Add that apple account on your iPhone/ipad/mac/whatever. Login once with their id.

4) Sign out and then disable this account on your device so it doesn't keep trying to update forever-more.

5) Have your friend set a proper password on their appleID now that you're done.

They can now use all features of iCloud photosharing.

Agreed!! It's why I switched to MS / Android. Hated iTunes and its proprietary music restrictions.

However all my millinial friends use Apple and so we can't share photos. Not sure I udersood the last coment abou soemeon setting up and account and sharing a password and what?

I am like the female described. A friend it trying to share an album and I have an apple ID but I do not have an apple device. Well I take that back....I have an apple TV? and an old iPod? Does that count?